ABC-Animal - Nutrition Chronicle
All year and especially during celebrations (Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Valentine's Day, Easter...) :
Be careful with Chocolate and Xylitol, a sugar substitute
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Chocolate
* Your animal could be poisoned with only 125 grams of chocolate (1/4 pound or 4.4 ounces).
* Chocolate contains theobromine, a cafeine-like substance.
* Theobromine can cause
- tremors,
- tachycardia (rapid heart rate),
- and heart attack.
* Dark chocolate, more concentrated with theobromine, is even more dangerous than milk chocolate.
Sugar-free Sweets with Xylitol
* Xylitol is a widely used sugar substitute, find in sugar-free sweets (chewing gum, candies, cakes, biscuits, jams, pies…).
* Xylitol can cause your animal’s death, dogs in particular, in only few hours.
* After ingestion of Xylitol (it only takes few chewing gums), the animal can present
- liver problems,
- hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar),
- depression,
- loss of coordination,
- seizures,
- can collapse and
- die.
Help
Quickly consult your veterinarian and call the Animal Control Poison Centre at 1-888-426-4435 http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc
Happy Holidays !
Caroline Fortin, D.V.M.
Veterinarian
www.ABC-Animal.com
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